Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-11-24
Randolph,s Rebuke Of 1mpistx.

John Randolph, ''Randolph of Roanoken
as he called himself, and liked to be called,
was early impressed with religious truth by
faithful Christian mother, of whom he
himself tells us, ''that at one time he might
have become a French infidel but for the
memory of his mothers hand upon his head,
as he knelt at her side, to repeat after her
the Lords Prayer" He was always out
spoken in favor of religion, and especially
toward the later years of his life, as illustra-
tions of which the following, among other
anecdotes, are related:
One day he was at dinner party in Vir-
ginia, given to young army officer. The
latter, at the table, was giving glowing ac-
count of the churches in Mexico, one Of the
finest of which he said had been turned into
barracks by the United States troops as they
entered Mexico under General Scott. When
one of the ladies present exclaimed, "Why,
Captain, werc you not afraid to do itg the
reply Of the young captain, in somewhat
boastful If not sneering tone, was: "Oh, no;
for my part have become SO used to such
things that could take my dinner on the
altar itself as comfortably as anywhere"
"And so would hog, sir" said Randolph
looking sharply at the officer, "while in the
silence that followed the terrible rebuke the
vcry air of the room seemed to tingle, as the
nerves Of the guests did" The officer felt the
rebuke and was silent, as well he might be-
Soon aftor Randolph's recovery from Sc
we're sickness in 1916, he was dining at the
house Of a prominent politician with large
and mixed company. "Among them," to
use his own words, ''was hoary-headed de-
bauchee, whose vices had completely shat
tered his constitution, and whose days seemed
to be numbered. And yet," said Randolph,
She had the audacity to call IN question the
existence of the Deity, presuming, 1 suppose,
that there were many kindred spirits there.
L.. -. c.A =; A1xy IA l.
and felt SO disgusted with his impiety that
could not help saying: 4 think, sir, that
you might better have been silent on
that subject, for judging from appear
ances, you, in short time, will have ocular
proof Of the power of that God whose exist
ance you now so boldly question. You can
afford to wait, sir, tho few remaining days
Of your life, and in common courtesy you
should not shock the feelings Of others by the
exhibition Of your blasphemy!' He turned
pale with anger" adds Randolph, sand even
trembled; but made no reioinder, and the
company soon separated. We met more than
once subsequently,, but never afterward re-
newed our acquaintance, and whether his
courage to brave death continued or not, l
do not know"
The incident reminds one Of Shelly, the
poet, who, amid the glorious scenery Of the
Alps, and surrounded there by the sublime
lucailllOoVuUiOilo VI WV
hood to avow and record his atheism by
| writing against his name in the register kept
| for travellers, "An Atheistl" Another trav-
eler who followed, shocked and indignant at
| the inscription, wrote beneath it, ''H an
| atheist, fool; or if not, then liar"
And SO Gods Word declares, that vt is
the fool who says in his heart, there is no
God.n He says it in his heart-that is,
expresses his wish that there were no God,
not in his head, in his sober judgment, for
be knows better; he knows there is God,
and doubtless has many fear and fore
| boding when thinking Of the hour WIN
he must stand before Him in judgmf
/ We are told Of Wilrnot, the infdel, chat
when he was dying, he laid his trembling
hand on the Bible, and said solemnly, and
with unwopted energy: "The only objec-
tion to this Book is bad lifen And If this
be true of the infidel who rejects revelation,
much more is it OF the atheist, who denies
4 the existence of God, the evidence Of whose
power and wisdom and goodness Is seen IN
al his works. REV. Tysca Edwards In
I! N. Y. Observer.